AbstractBack ground: Skin problems are one of the common health problems seen in the developing
countries. The evaluation for skin disorders form an important component of primary
health care practice for all, including children. The prevalence of certain skin diseases in
children can reflect status of health, hygiene, and personal cleanliness of a community.
Objective: This study was planned to evaluate the magnitude of skin diseases, pattern
of various dermatosis among children up to 18 year of age in a major tertiary care
hospital in the capital of Bangladesh.
Methods: A retrospective study was undertaken to determine the pattern of skin diseases
during the period of January 2010 to December 2010 at the Dermatology outpatient
department of Dhaka Shishu Hospital (DSH) a tertiary care hospital in the capital of
Bangladesh. Most of the cases were clinically diagnosed. Retrospective data were collected
from medical records of patients for determining the pattern of common paediatric
dermatological disorders seen at the out patient department (OPD) of DSH.
Results: In this study period (January 2010 to December 2010), a total of 14,445
cases were seen at the Dermatology OPD of DSH. Out of these patients skin diseases
were found more in male (54.9%) than in female patients (45.1%). The highest number
of patients were in the age group of 1-3 year (33.80%). Eczema was the most common
skin disorder (49.12%) followed by impetigo & other bacterial infections (35.43%) and
scabies (28.90%). Cutaneous fungal infection was 12.55%, miliaria was 6.74%, urticaria
was 5.87%, viral wart including molluscum contagiosum, herpes simplex, herpes
zoster, chicken pox and other viral rash were 2.76%, dry skin and icthyosis were
1.02%, pruritus vulvae & ani were 2.22%, bullous lesion was 1.1% and erythema
neonatorum was 1.34%. Other skin diseases were encountered less than 1%.
Conclusion: From the study it can be concluded that toddlers and preschool children
are frequently affected by skin diseases, than infants. Male children were more than
female. Eczema, superficial bacterial infections and scabies were most common problems
encountered in this study, while toxic epidermal necrolysis(TEN), staphylococcal scalded
skin syndrome (SSSS), pigmentary disorders were comparatively less.